Portable scouring and polishing machine of the rotary disk type



1.. ZAIGER 2,702,395 PORTABLE SCOURING AND POLISHING MACHINE OF THE ROTARY DISK TYPE Filed Nov. 22, 1949 1100070502 Lou/5,3 Z ayer lyag nfi M ir Feb. 22, 1955 United States Patent 9 PORTABLE SCOURING AND POLISHING: MACHINE OF THE ROTARY DISK TYPE' Louis Zaiger, Swampscott, Mass.

Application November-22, 1949, SeriaIiNo. 128,701

3 Claims.. (CI. 15-98) Thisinvention pertains to a portable scouring. and polishing machine of the rotary type whereinan electric motor, housed within a casing, drives a shaft to whose end a scouring or polishing disk or the like may be securedandwherein the casing has handlemeans for use in manipulating the machine in moving the polishing or scouring element over the work. Portable machines of this type are commonly used for finishing refinishing or'polishing articles of furniture, for polishing automobile bodies or for waxing and polishing floors. When designed primarily for operation upon elevated objects such 'as objects of furniture or the like, the machine 15 usually providedwith a short, rigid handleof convement shape to be grasped'in the hand of the user, the handle being fixed to the casing and commonly pro ectingat approximately right angles to the shaft or spindle-Which carries the polishing or scouring element. Wh1le-1t is possible to use such an arrangement for sandingorwaxing a floor, such usemakes it necessary for the user to assume a kneeling position which is not convenient, especially when treating large areas. For many persons such a mode of operation, would be Wholly-impractical. 9n the other hand, machinesdesigndprimarily forsanding or maxing floors usually have long, upstanding; and often heavy, handles by means of whichthe user may propel the apparatus along the floor while-in a standing position. Such devices, by reason of the length and weight ofthe handle, are not convenient nor practicalfor-nse in furniture polishing or similar operations;

The principal object of the present invention 1s to-p r vide improved'apparatus of the above general type which is capable of and convenient for use in such operations as polishing furniture, automobile bodies and' the hke, and also for floor sanding orpolishing. A further object is to provide a portable scouring and pol shing machine having handle means so-designed that itimay be grasped in one hand for supporting and manipulating the; apparatus when working on elevated OblECIS; such asfurniture, automobile-bodies and the like, but'wh ch is likewise so devised thatit may-be used forpropellmg the apparatus along the floor while-the user ism-standing position. A further object is to provide a: portable machine of the above type having a handle which may be fixed in a plurality-of'positions and which may; be made shorter or longeratwill. Other and further objects and advantages of the inventionwill be pointed out in. the following more detailed description and by reference to theaccompanying-drawings wherein Fig. 1' is a side elevation illustrating-the apparatus of the present invention with its handle arranged in one position of use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showlng the lower part of the casing of the apparatus, with the hand grip in horizontal position and with the spindle partly in section, the disk being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the disk WhlCh carrres the polishing element;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, plan view of the parts shown in Fi l;

Fig 5 is a fragmentary, vertical section through the outer end of the hand grip device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, showing a portion of an extension rod or handle attached thereto; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the apparatus provided with a sectional extension handle useful in proing the floor.

2,702,395 Patented. Feb. 22,, 1955,

Referring-to thedrawings, the -numeral 1. designates the=- apparatus as a whole. As here illustrated the'machine-comprises-a casing having a base or bottom portion'2' which may be an integral metallic casting, for exampleof aluminum, or which may be molded from other material, for instance a suitable synthetic resin,

this base; as here illustrated, being cup-like in shapeand designed to constitute a support'for the-electric motor (not shown) andto provide a bearing for the normally vertical shaft'or spindle which carries the polishing or scouring element. As illustrated, the casing alsocomprises an upper part 3, here shown as of inverted, cuplike shape, desirably of thin sheet metal or the like, andhaving openings for ventilating the motor. Preferably at gasket 4 of resilient or sound deadening material is interposed'betweenthe lower edge of the part 3 and thebase 2'. The severahpartsof the casing are united in any appropriate manner, for example by bolts or screws. The-motor is suppliedwith current througha flexible conductor 5. The motor may be-arranged with'its shaft coaxialwiththe axis of the casing, the shaft then extend-- ing down through the bearing in the lower part of the base 2 and forming the immediate support for the disk which carries the polishingand scouring elements. Under such-.circumstancesthe spindle or shaft is driven at the motor speed. However, it is preferred to interpose; speed reduction gearing (not shown) between the motor and the spindle or shaft 6' to which the polishing disk is. securediin order that the speed of rotation of the polish-- ing diskmay be less than that of the motor, thus avoiding the-possibility-of overheating the work during'the scouring'or polishing operation. The lower end of the spindle or shaft 6 (Fig. 2.) is provided, as is usual in such machines, with an axial, screw threaded bore designed to receivea screwthreaded axial boss '7 (Fig. 3) at the upper end ofthestemfiiofthe disk-9:011 which the scouring or polishing element is mounted. As illustratedin Fig. 1- a thick. polishing pad 10 of soft material such as felt or wool is mountedin the disk 9.

As herein illustrated, the base 2 is provided with an integral: outstanding lateral boss 11. This boss has a vertical outer surface 12 and a second vertical surface or shoulder 13; A handle-element 14,- here shown as a hollow-hand grip properly-designed and shaped to be grasped in the hand of'the user, is connected to the boss. 11 for use in manipulating the apparatus when operating upon elevated objects (ascontrasted with. use orrthefloor); As illustrated, this hand grip'member I4. is: made from: stiff" sheet metal and at its inner end'isprovided withspaced, parallelears 15 and 16 (Fig; 4*) which aredesigned toreceive the boss 11 between them, these ears15 and lfi beingprovided with aligned open-v ings for thereception of a bolt 17 which passes throughtheseopenings and throughan opening inthe boss 11 andwhich is provided with awing, nut 18 by means of whichithe parts may betightened so as to hold the handigrip 14 ina' desired" position of adjustment. The; surfaces.- 12" and 13 of. the boss form limiting; elemente for thehand gripand together with the bolt 17 constitute a knuckle joint permitting; the hand; grip to; beswung-from the horizontal position of Fig. 2' (wherein a shoulder-19 (Fig. l) ofthe hand grip contacts; the surface 12 of the boss 11?) to; aposition wherein another shoulder 20 (-Fig. 1) of thehan'dgrip contacts the vertical surface 13 of the boss 11. As illustrated, this permits an arc of movement of approximately 45, although by varying the positions of the shoulders 19 and 20 such are of movement might be varied, if desired.

The flexible conductor 5 enters the interior of the hand grip 14 through an aperture defined by an insulating collar 21 (Fig. 5) and passes down inside of the hand grip and emerges near the inner or pivoted end of the hand grip through an opening defined by another insulating collar 22. A bight 5 of the flexible conductor permits freedom of movement of the handle, the conductor entering the base 2 of the casing through a third insulating collar 23.

A rigid web member 24 formed from the material of the hand grip extends across the outer end of the latter (Fig. 5) and as here illustrated is shaped to provide an integral, inwardly directed annular flange 25 which is internally screw threaded.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an extension handle comprising a rod 26 (Fig. which may, for example, beof wood or if preferred, 'of tubular metal, here shown as of wood and having a metallic ferrule 27 at one end, the ferrule having a screw threaded axial stud 28 designed to engage the screw threads within the annular flange 25 so as rigidly but removably to unite the rod 26 to the hand grip 14. The rod 26 may be of any desired length and may be long enough so that a single length of rod is sufiicient for use in propelling the machine along the floor while the operator is in standing position. However, for convenience in shipping and storage it is preferred to employ a sectional extension handle comprising the rod 26 and one or more additional lengths of rod, for example, 26'- (Fig. 6). As shown in Fig. 6 the rod 26 is provided at its outer end with a ferrule 28 designed to receive the end of the second section 26 If desired these parts may have screw threaded engagement, although ordinarily it will sufiice merely .to slip the end of the rod section 26 into the plain ferrule 28. While the extension handle is here shown as comprising two sections 26 and 26 it is contemplated that a greater number of sections may be employed if desired.

In using the device and assuming'that it is to be used for working on elevated objects such as furniture or the like, the hand grip 14 will usually be arranged in the position shown in Fig. 2. The parts may thus be arranged by loosening the Wing nut 18 and swinging the grip member 14 down until the shoulder 19 engages the surface 12. The wing nut is then tightened to retain the parts in this position. The disk 9 is then connected to the spindle or shaft 6 and the appropriate working element, for example a sand paper disk or a polishing pad, is secured to the disk 9. The operator then grasps the handle 14 and having started the motor, moves the apparatus about the work as desired, supporting as much of the weight of the machine as is desirable by his grip on the handle 14. If the horizontal position of the handle 14, as shown in Fig. 2, is not convenient for the particular work at hand, the grip member 14 may be swung upwardly, more or less, by loosening the wing nut 18 and after adiusting it to the desired position, again tightening the wing nut.

If it be desired to use the apparatus for sanding or polishing a floor, the extension handle is attached to the end of the hand grip 14, as shown in full lines in Fig. 6, the screw threaded boss 28 at the end of the rod 26 being screwed into the flange 25 at the end of the hand grip, and the additional extension section being then assembled with the rod 26. The operator will then loosen the wing nut 18 and swing the extension handle means to the most convenient position for use in'propelling the apparatus along the floor. Usually thebes't position is that in which the shoulder 20 engages the vertical surface 13 of the boss 11 for in this position it is possible to apply a substantial downward thrust to produce the desired pressure of the working element upon the floor. However, the operator may set the handle means at various positions, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6, and if desired may fix the handle in the selected position by tightening the wing nut 18.

While it is most convenient to provide the extension handle by connecting the sectional rod to the end of the hand grip 14 it is contemplated as within the scope of the invention to provide the base 2 of the casewith a.

socket independent of the hand grip member 14 into -which the screw threaded boss 28, at the end of the rod 26, may be inserted, as well as such equivalent means of connecting the extension handle as may be found most convenient and desirable. It is further to be understood that while a desirable construction has herein been suggested by way of example, the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all equivalent arrangements whereby the apparatus is made convenient for alternative use in working on the floor or in working on articles or objects elevated from the floor.

I claim:

1. In combination with a portable scouring and polishing machine of the kind wherein a casing houses an electric motor which drives a short shaft to whose lower end a disk may be attached, the center of gravity of the motor and casing being close to the plane of rotation of the disk so that the latter supports the motor and casing in stable equilibrium, a hand grip shaped to be grasped in one hand for use in manipulating the machine from a kneeling position, said grip being a rigid hollow structure tapering from one end to the other, the smaller end being pivotally attached to the side of the casing near the lower portion thereof, for angular movement in a vertical plane extending radially of the casing, means for adjustably locking the hand grip at any selected angular position within its range of pivotal movement, said grip having at its outer end a rigid transversely extending web in which there is a threaded opening coaxial with the axis of the grip and an elongate staif forming in combination with the hand grip an extension for use when manipulating the machine from a standing position, said staff having a threaded shank at one end engageable with the threaded opening in the web, rigidly to connect the stafi to the grip.

2. A portable scouring and polishing machine according to claim 1, wherein the casing has an integral boss having a transverse horizontal hole through it and is provided with abutment surfaces, the grip has a pair of spaced parallel cars which receives said boss between them, said ears having holes therethrough, a bolt pivotally connects the ears to the boss and the grip has at its smaller end shoulders alternatively engageable with each of said abutment surfaces on the boss to limit the armate movement of the hand grip.

3. A portable scouring and polishing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hand grip has spaced openings located near the small and large ends thereof for entrance and exit respectively of a flexible conductor cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 95,206 Hays Apr. 16, 1935 116,126 Whitman n June 20, 1871 1,156,235 Kirby Oct. 12, 1915 1,665,988 Smith Apr. 10, 1928 1,667,579 Zweig Apr. 24, 1928 1,727,922 Adams Sept. 10, 1929 1,767,322 Snyder Apr. 1, 1929 2,281,858 Pierce May 5, 1942 2,388,486 Lederman Nov. 6, 1945 2,581,141 Raptis Jan. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,177 Norway July 19, 1937 495,697 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1938 

